Annular type combustion chamber construction for turbo-power plants



Oct. 17, 1950 N. c. PRICE 2,526,410

ANNULAR TYPE COMBUSTION CHAMBER CONSTRUCTION FOR TURBO-POWER PLANTS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed lay 22, 1943 IN VENTOR Nathan C. Price Agent Ot. 17, 1950 N. c. PRICE ANNULAR TYPE COMBUSTION CHAMBER CONSTRUCTION FOR TURBO-POWER PLANTS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Origihal Filed May 22, 1945 Inventor Nd'thon C. Price Agent Patented Oct. 17, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ANNULAR TYPE COMBUSTION CHAMBER CONSTRUCTION FOR TURBO-POWER PLANTS Nathan C. Price, Los Angeles, Calif., asslgnor to Lockheed Aircraft Corporation, Burbank, Calif.

Original application May 22, 1943, Serial No. 488,029, now Patent No. 2,468,461, dated April 26, 1949. Divided and this application February 26, 1945, Serial 190,579,757

This invention ltelates to power plants, and relates more. parti ularly to combustion chamber constructions for nternal combustion reaction This application is a division of my copending application, Serial type engines or power plants.

final stage air compressor to the combustion zone and atomized fuel is introduced into the combustion chamber adjacent its inlet end. It is desirable that there be maximum fuel combustion in the primary combustion chamber, but in practice combustion at this point has been limited to a considerable degree because metallurgical and structural considerations preclude the development of excessively high temperatures which accompany full fuelcombustion. It is, therefore, a general object of this invention to provide a practical combustion chamber arrangement for embodiment in power plants of the character above referred to capable of permitting sustained substantially full combustion without excessively heating the fuel injecting elements, the combustion chamber shrouds, walls, etc. The apparatus of the present invention utilizes portions of the air supplied by the air compressor to cool the fuel mixing and injecting elements, and shrouds and chamber walls.

It is another object of the invention to provide combustion chamber construction comprising novel effective fuel and air mixing and injecting means for introducing atomized liquid fuel at 33 Claims. (Cl. 60-44) ments which conduct relatively cool air past the 2 tially define the Venturi shaped main air passages.

A further object of the invention is to provide a combustion chamber construction of the character referred to embodying main shrouds arranged in spaced concentric relation to define the main combustion zone and which are spaced from the housing and other structural elements to leave cooling air passages. .The cooling air flowing through these passages shields the housing and principal inner wall of the combustion zone and continues to flow along the surfaces of these parts to form protective boundary layers of relatively cool air for the surfaces which form the mouth of the discharge nozzle of the combustion chamber.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description throughout which reference will be made to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of a portion of a power plant showing the combustion chamber and gas turbine with portions of the same appearing in longitudinal cross section;

Figure 2 is a partialtransverse cross section of the combustion chamber taken as indicated by line 2-4 on Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary cross section of a number of the swirl vanes at the entrance of the combustion chamber; and

Figure 4 is an enlarged longitudinal detailed sectional view of a portion of the combustion chamber of this invention.

The combustion chamber construction of the present invention is adapted primarily for incorporationin internal combustion .turbopower plants of the class embodying compressor means, a turbine and a combustion chamber interposed between the compressor means and turbine. In the drawings I have shown the combustion chamber Z receiving compressed air from the annular.

discharge passage I09 of the compressor means and serving to supply the heated gases of combustion and air to the expansion zone of the tur bine G. The compressor means (not shown) is contained in a forward housing in and has a shaft 66 supported by bearingmeans 68 carried in bell-shaped housings II which in turn are supported in the housing I ll by spaced spokes 15. The shaft I64 of the turbine G2 to be subsequently described, extends forwardly for connection with the shaft 66 at 210 so that the turbine drives the compressor means. The details of the compressor means are omitted because they are not essential to a complete understanding of the present invention. The above mentioned discharge passage I09 of the compressor leads into the annular inlet H of the combustion chamber Z.

The combustion chamber of the present invention is a substantially annular space of rear wardly diminishing diameter occurring between the discharge passage I09 of the compressor and the gas turbine G2. The combustion chamber is provided between an externally ribbed tubular pressure-resistant housing H and a concentric structural bearing-supporting member or partition I61. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the surface area of the housing I I5 is increased by axially extending external ribs. The housing H5 is a tapering or frusto-conical member and its large forward end is secured to the compressor housing I0 by bolts or screws 300. Similar screws 30I may be employed to secure the reduced rear end of the housing to the gas turbine casing I60. This mode of assembling renders the housing easy of h removal for the purpose of inspecting and servic- '1ng the internal elements of the combustion from heat-resistant material such as a nickelchromium-iron alloy. The reduced rear portion of the partition H6 is associated with elements of the gas turbine G2 to be subsequently described, while the forward end of the partition is attached to a ring H9, which in turn is attached to the member I61. The rear portions of the housing H5 and partition H6 are shaped and related so that the combustion chamber Z converges at its rear end to an annular nozzle H1. The nozzle H1 leads to an outlet portion of reduced area, which contains a series of circumferentially spaced airfoil shaped vanes 223.

concentrically positioned ring structures H8 and I I 9 are provided in the forward inlet portion of the combustion chamber Z. Suitable screws 305, Or the equivalent, secure the ring structures H8 and H9 to the housing I I5 and partition H6, respectively. The outer" ring H8 has two concentric annular rows of circumferentially spaced openings I and I2I, and the inner ring H9 has three concentric rows of similar openings I 22, I23 and I24. A central annular opening I25 is located between the spaced ring structures H8 and H9. The combustion chamber means further includes a pair of substantially annular spaced concentric shroud members I26 and I21. The member I 26 is spaced inwardly from the housing I I5, and the wall of the housing and the member I26 are in forward convergent relation. The member I21 is similarly spaced. inwardly from the partition H6 and converges rearwardly relative thereto. The shroud members I26 and I21 are elongate tubular parts extending rearwardly from the rings H8 and H9, respectively, to adjacent the aforementioned nozzle M1 to define an elongate annular combustion zone I3I. The members I26 and I21 are attached to or joined with the rings I I8 and H9 at points between their respective rows of openings and the surfaces of the members I26 and I21 that are external with respect to the combustion zone I are provided with closely spaccd longitudinally extending radial ribs or fins I28 and I29; see Figure 2. The surface-extending or cooling fins I28 and I29 project into the relatively narrow air passages I32 and I33 between the combustion zone shrouds and the housing and partition walls H5 and H6. The shroud members I26 and I21 are comprised of segments spaced apart circumferentially to allow for thermal expansion and contraction, the gaps or spaces between the segments being shown at 303 in Figure 2.

The'above described rows of openings I20 and I23 serve to connect the main air inlet passage H0 with the cooling air passages I32 and I33 and are defined by radial airfoil shaped webs or vanes of the ring structures H8 and H9. The openings I2I and I24 are defined by radially disposed airfoil shaped swirl vanes I34 arranged at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the assembly as shown in Figure 3. The air passed or circulated through the cooling passages I32 and I 33 is given an axial direction while the air entering the air passages I31 and I38 is given a rotary or swirling motion by the vanes I34. It will be observed that the air moving through the passages I 32 and I33 efiectively cools the shroud members I26 and I21 as well as the housing wall H5 and the partition H6. Further, the cooling air issuing from the nozzle ends of the gradually restricted passages I32 and I33 flows along the surfaces of the housing H5 and the partition which form the nozzle H1, to constitute protective cooling layers for these surfaces.

The combustion means further includes a second pair of spaced concentric tubular shroud members I35 and I36 extending rearwardly from the inner margins of the above described central annular opening I25. The members I35 and I36 are secured to and carried by the rings H8 and H9 respectively, and extend rearwardly therefrom in spaced relation to the adjacent shroud members I26 and I21, leaving intermediate air passages I31 and I38. The inner shroud members I35 and I36 are convergent so that the intermediate air passages I31 and I38 are of rearwardly increasing capacity. Air is supplied to these intermediate passages I31 and I38 by the vaned openings I 2| and I24. The passages I 31 and I 38 are restricted adjacent the vaned openings so that they are substantially Venturi shaped in cross section as illustrated in Figure 4. The expanding air flowing around the shroud members I35and I36 effectively cools the intermediate or inner shrouds.

The invention includes fuel injecting means within the annular space or zone defined by the inner shrouds I 35 and I36. This means includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced fuel jets extending into the annular space between the pair of intermediate shrouds I 35 and I36. The jets are tubular elements terminating at their ends in spray heads I. The jets or their heads each have a pair of diametrically opposite laterally directed orifices I42 and I43. It is preferred to direct the orifices radially with respect to the combustion chamber assembly as illustrated in Figure 4. A manifold arrangement is provided to supply the jets with liquid fuel and air. A pair of circular manifold pipes I46 and I41 is arranged in the annular duct leading to the'entrance of the combustion chamber. The pipe I46 is supplied with air under pressure by a lead-in pipe I50. The pipe I 41 is supported within the circular pipe I46 in spaced relation to its walls jets 366 are shielded against radiant heat from adjacent parts by the air flow through the mani fold I46 and jets. The nipples 366 may be ported between their ends or may have their forward ends open for the discharge of the fuel. The points of discharge of the fuel from the nipples 366 may be spaced axially from the orifices I42 and I43. Radial or lateral orifices I52 and I53 are provided in the walls of the shrouds I35 and I36, respectively, to discharge the atomized fuel and air mixture into the above described passages I31 and I38. The orifices I52 and I53 are substantially opposite or aligned with the orifices I42 and I43,.and discharge the mixture of fuel and air into the restricted portions of the passages I31 and I38 at substantially right angles to the general direction of flow therethrough. Thus the fuel and air mixture is introduced into the contracted high velocity portions of the passages at the forward end of the combustion chamber. It will be observed that the fuel introducing nozzles or jets are contained within the air-cooled shroud assembly I35 and I36 and are not subjected to excessively high temperatures.

The means for igniting the. air and fuel mixture in the combustion zone comprises one or more glow plugs I55. The glow plugs extend through openings in the wall of the housing H5 and shroud I26 and their shanks are threaded into bosses on the housing It is preferred to arrange the plugs I55 so that their inner ends are in spaced downstream relation to the fuel mixture orifices I52.- The glow plugs I55 are supplied with low tension current and serve to ignite the fuel and air mixture flowing forwardly into the combustion chamber. It is to be understood'that the glow plugs I55 are employed to effect the initial ignition of the fuel and air mixture.

The gas turbine G2 is contained within the housing I66 and comprises a hollow rotor I6I having the general shape of a truncated cone, and is coaxially positioned within the power plant with its end of minimum diameter facing rearwardly in the direction of flow of the propellant gases to form an expansion zone of increasing cross sectional area between said rotor and the inside surface of said housing. The turbine rotor I6I is splined at I62 and bolted at I63 to the end of the hollow shaft I64, which is in turn rotatably supported upon a rear main bearing I65 and a forwardly located auxiliary bearing I 66.

The rotor shaft main bearing I65 is supported by means of the cantilever housing member I61 described above.

The gas turbine rotor is provided with a pmrality of rows of hollow impeller blades or buckets I69-I12 constructed of heat resistant, high jacent the forward end of the rotor cavity. The

strength metal such as a nickel-chromium-iron Y pending application, Serial No. 576,655, filed February 7, 1945.

Rows of turbine intermediates or stator blades I8I, I82, I83 and I84 are fixed intermediate the beforementioned impeller blade rows and supported from the inner surface or lining of the turbine housing I66. An intermediate row of specifically constructed stationary vanes is provided with means for injecting fuel into the turbine expansion zone. The fuel is supplied to fuel vaporizing and injecting tubes on the vanes by asupply pipe 261, tubes 268 and unions 263. This fuel injection means is described and claimed in my copending application, Serial No. 578,362, filed February 16, 1945, Patent No. 2,479,777.

A tubular baflie. 2I3 of stepwise diminishing diameter, and spaced from but conforming in form generally, with the inside surface contour of the turbine rotor shell, is attached at 2 to the rearward inner wall of the combustion chamber, and extends rearwardly to a point 2I5 addiverging annular space 2 I 6 thus defined between the conical bearingsupport I61 and the said inner wall II6 of the combustion chamber and the baffle 2I3 serves to conduct cooling air under pressure from the annular duct I22, at the entrance ,II6 of the combustion chamber, rearwardly to the inner apex of the turbine rotor cavity adjacent the main bearing I65 and thence forwardly, countercurrent to the propellant gases in the turbine. The air flows along the inner surface of the turbine rotor cavity in contact with the 111116! ends of the impeller blade roots, and finally reaches the openings in the annular nozzle ring I I1 in the outlet from the combustion chamber.

The nozzle ring at the discharge nozzle II1 of the combustion chamber is constructed of a pair of concentric rings 226 with adjacent convex surfaces so shaped and positioned as to form a smoothly curved diverging nozzle passageway 222. Circumferentially spaced vanes 223, each set at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the unit, extend radially between the said inner curved surfaces of the nozzle rings 226.

At the apex of the turbine rotor, a conical cap member 236 encloses a space 23I into which liquid fuel may be injected under pressure by way of a tube 232 which passes within the bore of the hollow turbine shaft I64. Communication between the tube 232 and the said hollow space 23I for fiow of the fuel is affected by way of a plurality of peripherally spaced orifices as shown at 231, extending through the walls of the tubing adjacent its rearward end and registering with corresponding radial ducts 238 extending through the extreme rearward point of the turbine rotor body. The conical cap 236 is provided with a plurality of divergingly directed orifices 235 equispaced in its periphery and adjacent its end of greatest diameter where it meets and makes fluidtight connection at 236 with the rotor body I6I. Provision is thus made for injection of supplementary fuel into the gases leaving the turbine at this point to consume the excess air entering the propulsive nozzle whereby the thrust of the power plant is augmented, as described and I claimed in my copending applications, Serial No.

433,599, filed March 6, 1942, and Serial No. 578,302, filed February 16, 1945, the latter now Patent No. 2,479,777.

Located immediately at the rear of the gas turbine and attached at 246 to the gas turbine housing is the secondary combustion chamber material. The secondary combustion chamber S is shaped and otherwise adapted to efllclently utilize the kinetic energy of the residual velocity of the gas issuing from the turbine expansion zone so that it will be additive to the kinetic energy of the propulsive jet.

Assuming now, by way of example, that a speed of approximately 900 feet per second relative to the air at 50,000 feet pressure altitude has been attained by the power unit in the aircraft with which it may be associated, the operation of the apparatus of this invention is briefly as follows:

The compressor means are driven by the turbine through shafts I64 and 66 and serve to supply compressed air to the annular duct I09 adjacent the entrance IIO of the combustion chamber Z at a final pressure of approximately 134 pounds per square inch absolute.

At the entrance III! to the combustion chamber, the compressed air is divided, a major portion flowing through the vaned annular inlets HI and- I24, and through the Venturi shaped annular passages I31 and I38 to the combustion zone I3I in chamber Z. Another portion of the compressed air passes through the annular openings I20 and I23 and thence through the substantially annular clearance spaces I32 and I33 between the ribs of the combustion ,zone shrouds and the combustion chamber housing. Still another minor portion of the compressed air en-" ters at the central annular opening I25 and flows through the nozzle shaped annular passage between the inner shrouds I35 and I36 which serves to cool the spray nozzle and spray head I 4| The balance of the compressed air from duct IIIJ passes through the openings at I22 and flows down through the tapering, substantially annular passage 2 l 6 formed between the conical shaped main bearing support I61 and the inner shroud 6 of the combustion chamber and its bafile extension M3 to the inner apex of the gas turbine rotor cavity adjacent the main rotor bearing I65. From there a portion of the cooling air turns and flows forward along the inner surface of the turbine rotor shell in heat exchange contact with the inner ends of the impeller blade roots and finally is exhausted to the gas turbine expansion zone inlet at the inner nozzle ring 220 where it joins the combustion gases issuing from the combustion zone I3I in chamber Z in laminar flow.

That portion of the compressed air which passes through the Venturi shaped passages I2I and I24 of the entrance to the combustion zone meets and mixes with the atomized spray of fuel projected from the perforations I42 and I43 in the spray nozzle head I4I, through the holes I52 and I53 in the inner shroud members I35 and I36. The resultant fuel-air mixture, once ignited by the hot filament of the glow plug I55, continues to burn throughout a substantial length of the combustion zone I3l in chamber Z. The angularly set vanes I34 in the said passages HI and I24 impart a rapid spiral motion to the aforesaid mixture of the fuel and air issuing through the annular passages I31 and I38, and where this spirally moving mixture meets the axially flowing air from the central and adjacent passageways, rapid and thorough mixing of the fuel and combustion air is effected. The rotation of the burning gases in the combustion zone is preferably in the same direction as that imparted to the combustion gases leaving the turbine inlet nozzle ring I I1 whereby a portion of the rotational kinetic energy is conserved.

The heated gaseous combustion products and excess air are continuously released from the combustion chamber through the restricted openbine shaft I64 is discharged axially from the gas turbine expansion stages into the secondary combustion chamber S and thence out through the nozzle in the form of a rearwardly directed and emciently expanded high velocity reactive gaseous jet. The propulsive force exerted by the reaction of the gases leaving the said nozzle is the thrust which may be utilized in whole or in part to propel the unit and the vehicle with which it is associated. 7

When additional thrust is required and at certain times when maximum efficiency of operation of the unit is to be attained, supplementary fuel is injected through the orifices 235 and the fuel injection tubes of the turbine blades I82.

Having described only a typical form of the invention, I do not wish to be limited to the specific details herein set forth, but wish to reserve to myself any variations or modifications that may appear to those skilled in the art or fall within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a gas reaction propulsion unit, a combustion chamber comprising a substantially annular shaped enclosure, means to introduce air at the forward end of the enclosure, a pair of spaced substantially concentrically positioned annular shaped refractory shroud. members in said enclosure forming an inner annular combustion zone separated from the walls of said enclosure by relatively narrow air spaces, said shroud members each comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced segments, means to form a fuel and air mixture within said combustion zone adjacent the forward end thereof, and means located in a common plane that is transverse of said enclosure and adjacent one end of said zone for supporting said segments of the shroud members.

2. In a gas reaction propulsion unit, a com.- bustion chamber comprising an approximately annular shaped enclosure, means to introduce air at the forward end and means to discharge heated combustion gases at the rearward end of said enclosure, a pair of substantially concentrically positioned spaced annular shaped refractory shroud members ,in said enclosure forming an inner annular combustion zone separated from the walls of said enclosure by a pair of surrounding relatively narrow annular air spaces, another pair of substantially concentric annular refractory members positioned within the forward portion of said annular combustion zone in spaced rearwardly divergent relation to said shroud members to therewith define substantially Venturi shaped passages, the pair of refractory members forming a relatively short openended annular shaped nozzle member, and'means in said nozzle member for injecting fuel into said venturi shaped passages.

3. In a gas reaction propulsion unit, a combustion chamber comprising an approximately annular shaped enclosure, means to introduce air at the forward end and means to discharge spaced from said shroud members to leave rearwardly flaring entrance passages into the com-.-

bustion zone, means for introducing fuel into said passages, and means to divide the flow of air entering the combustion chamber to cause one portion of the air carrying admixed fuel to flow through the said annular combustion zone surrounding said nozzle member, another portion of the air free from fuel to flow through the said annular air spaces surrounding said combustion Zone, and still another portion of said air to flow through said nozzle member.

4. In a gas reaction propulsion unit, a combustion chamber comprising an approximately annular shaped enclosure, means to introduce air at the forward end and means todischarge heated combustion gases at the rearward end of said enclosure, a pair of substantially concentrically positioned spaced annular shaped refractor shroud members in said enclosure forming an inner annular combustion zone separated from the walls of said enclosure by a pair of surrounding relatively narrow annular spaces, a pair of substantially concentric annular refractory members positioned within the forward portion of said combustion, zone and spaced one from the other to form a relatively short open-ended annular nozzle member, the last named refractory'members having intermediate apertures interconnecting the inner annular space within the nozzle with the surround.- ing portion of the combustion zone, and fuel jets adjacent said apertures and directed to project a mixture of fueland air through the apertures and into the air stream flowing into said combustion zone.

5., In a gas reaction propulsion unit, a com-' bustion chamber comprising an approximately annular shaped enclosure, means to introduce air at the forward end and means to discharge heated combustion gases at the rearward end of-saidenclosure, a pair of substantially concentrically positioned spaced annular shaped refractory shroud members in said enclosure forming an inner annular combustion zone separated from the walls of said enclosure by a pair of surrounding relatively narrow annular air spaces, a pair of substantially concentric annular refractory members converging in the direction of flow and positioned within the forward portion of said combustion zone and spaced one from the other to form a relatively short openended annular nozzle member, the last named refractory members having intermediate apertures interconnecting the inner annular space within the nozzle with the surrounding portion of the combustion zone, and fuel jets adjacent said apertures and directed to project a mixture of fuel and air through the apertures air and into the air stream flowing into said combustion zone. I

6. Apparatus according to claim-2with a plurality of obliquely positioned vanes adjacent the entrance to said combustion zone and intermediate -said combustion zone shrouds and said nozzle member to impart a spiral flow pattern to the fuel and air mixture flowing through the annular space of said combustion zone.

'7. A combustion chamber for use with a source of air under pressure comprising walls defining an enclosure, one end of the enclosure receiving air under pressure from said source, the other end of the enclosure being adapted to .discharge heated gases of 'combustlon, a pair of spaced longitudinally extending shrouds in the enclosure substantially concentric with said walls defining a combustion zone, a pair of inner shrouds spaced between said first named shrouds adjacent sa (1 first named end thereof and spaced one from the other to leave an open-ended inner passage for the axial through flow of air, means for imparting a spiral motion to the air entering the combustion zone, and means in said inner passage forintroducing fuel into said zone adjacent the first .named end of the enclosure, the shrouds being spaced from said walls to leave cooling air passages which receive air under pressure from said source.

8. A combustion chamber for use with a source of air under pressure comprising walls defining an enclosure, one end of the enclosure receiving air under pressure from said source, said walls converging at the other end of the enclosure to define a nozzle for the discharge of the gases of combustion, spaced shrouds in the enclosure substantially concentric with said walls extending from adjacent the first named end of the enclosure toward the nozzle and defining a combustion zone, means for imparting a spiral motion to the air entering said zone, means for introducing fuel into the combustion zone, said shrouds being spaced from said walls to leave relatively narrow passages receiving air under pressure from said'source and discharging said air to flow over the portions of said walls which define said nozzle, and means for directing the air for substantially straight flow through said passagesij 9. A combustion chamber for use with a source of air under pressure comprising frustoconical innerand outer walls in spaced substantially concentric relation defining an annular frusto-conical enclosure, the end of largest di{ ameter of the enclosure receiving air under pressure from ,said source, means for imparting a.

swirling motion to the air flowing through the enclosure, nozzle means at the smaller end of the enclosurefor discharging the gases of combustion, spaced tubular shrouds in said enclosure defining a combustion zone, and means for introducing fuel into said zone.

10. A combustion chamber for use with a sourceof air under pressure comprising frustoconical inner and outer walls in spaced substantially concentric relation defining an annular enclosure, one'end of the enclosure receiving air under pressure from said source, nozzle means at the other end of the enclosure for discharging the gases of combustion, spaced tubular shrouds in said enclosure defining a combustion zone, a pair of spaced tubular inner shroud walls in said zone adjacentthe first named end of theenclosure, and means between and protected by the inner shroud walls for introducing fuel into the combustion zone.

11. A combustion chamber comprising walls defining an annular combustion zone, means for conducting air under pressure to one end of said zone for axial flow therethrough, a pair of tubular shrouds spaced one within the other in said zone adjacent said end and in substantially concentrio relation to said walls, air under pressure from said means being free to flow through the annular space between said shrouds, and means for introducing fuel into the combustion zone including an air pressure tube e tending into said space, a fuel supply tube exten ing into said space,-and 'a mixing head in said spacereceiving air and fuel from said tube and injecting the fuel and air mixture into said zone.

12. A combustion chamber comprising walls defining an annular combustion zone,means for conducting air under pressure to one end of said zone for axial flow therethrough, a pair of tubular shrouds spaced one within the other in said zone adjacent said end and arranged in substantially concentric relation to said walls, air under pressure from said means being free to flow through the annular space between said shrouds, and means for introducing fuel into the combustion zone including an airpressure tube extending into said space, a-fuel supply tube extending into said space, and a, mixing head in aid space receiving air and fuel from said tube, said shrouds having apertures, and said head having orifices for discharging the fuel and air mixture through said apertures into the combustion zone, the air flow through said space serving to cool the shrouds, tubes and head.

13. A combustion chamber comprising walls defining an annular combustion zone, means for conducting air under pressure to one end of said zone for axial fiow therethrough, a. pair of tubular shrouds spaced one within the other in said zone adjacent said end and arranged in substantially concentric relation to said walls, air under pressure from said means being free to flow through the annular space between said shrouds, the shrouds having apertures, and means for introducing fuel into the combustion zone including manifold means, and fuel jets extending from the manifold means into said annular space and discharging fuel through said apertures.

14. A combustion chamber comprising walls defining an annular combustion zone, means for conducting air under pressure to one end of said zone for axial flow therethrough, a pair of tubular shrouds spaced one within the other in said zone adjacent said end, air under pressure from said means being free to flow through the annular space between said shrouds, the shrouds having oiroumferentially spaced apertures, annular fuel and air manifold means, fuel and air tubes extending from the manifold means into said annular space, and mixing jets associated with said tubes for discharging mixed air and fuel through said apertures into the combustion zone, the air flow through said space serving to shield and cool annular manifold means, tubes and jets.

15. A combustion chamber comprising walls defining an annular combustion zone, means for conducting air under pressure to one end of said zone for axial fiow theretlirough, a pair of tubular shrouds spaced one within the other in said zone adjacent said end, air under pressure from said means being free to flow through the annular space between said shrouds, the outermost shroud ill having an aperture, means in said space for discharging fuel through said aperture into the combustion zone, and fuel igniting means in the combustion zone in adjacent downstream relation to said aperture.

16. A combustion chamber comprising walls defining an annular combustion zone, means for conducting air under pressure to one end of said zone for axial flow therethrough, a pair of tubular shrouds spaced one within the other in said zone adjacent said end, air under pressure from said means being free to flow through the annular space between said shroud walls, the outermost shroud wall having. a aperture, meansin said space for discharging el through said aperture into the combustion ne, and an electrical glow plug in the combusti 11 zone in adjacent downstream relationtosai aperture.

17. A combustion chamber comprising an outer pressure resistant tubular wall, a concentric tubular structural wall within and spaced from the outer wall, said walls defining an enlongate annular enclosure, a pair of tubular shrouds spaced one within the other within said enclosure and arranged in substantially concentric relation to said walls to define an annular combustion zone, each of said shrouds being spaced from a wall to leave an annular cooling passage, means for conducting air under pressure to one end'of the enclosure to pass axially through said zone I and passages, an annular nozzle member spaced between the forward portions of said shrouds, means in the nozzle member for introducing fuel into the combustion zone, and swirl vanes at the entrance of the combustion zone for imparting a spiral motion to the fuel and air mixture flowing through the zone.

18. In a power plant, two spaced generally cylindrical housings, one being of larger diameter than the other, and combustion chamber means comprising a tubular frusto-oonical outer wall extending between said housings, a tubular frusto-conical inner wall spaced within the outer wall to leave an enlongate annular enclosure, said walls being positioned with their ends of largest diameter at the housing of largest diameter, tubular refractory shrouds in said en-- closure defining a combustion zone and spaced.

from said walls to leave cooling passages, means in the housing of larger diameter for forcing air under pressure axially through said zone and passages toward said other housings, means for imparting a swirling motion to 'said air, and means for introducing fuel into the combustion zone.

19. In a power plant, two spaced generally cylindrical housings, one being of larger diameter than the other, and combustion chamber means comprising a tubular frusto-conical outer wall extending between said housings, a tubular frusto-conioal inner wall spaced within the outer wall to leave an elongate annular enclosure, said walls being positioned with their ends of largest diameter at the housing of largest diameter and with their ends of smallest diameter at the other housing, tubular refractory shrouds in said enclosure defining a combustion zone and spacedv from said walls to leave cooling passages, means detachably securing said outer wall to the housings so that it may be removed to render the refractory shrouds accessible, means in the housing of larger diameter for forcing air under pressure through said zone and passages toward said other housing, mean for imparting a swirling motion to said air, and means for introducing fuel into the combustion zone.

20. Combustion chamber means comprising an outer tubular wall, an inner tubular wall spaced from the outer wall to leave an annular enclosure, a ring attached to the outer wall adjacent one end of the enclosure, a refractory shroud carried by said ring to extend axially in said enclosure and spaced from the outer wall to leave a cooling air passage, a ring carried by the inner wall adjacent said end of the enclosure, a refractory shroud carried by the second ring to extend axially in said enclosure and spaced from the inner wall to leave a cooling air passage, said shrouds being spaced apart to define a combustion zone, means for introducin fuel into said zone, and means for supplying air under pressure to said end of the enclosure.

21. Combustion chamber means comprising an outer tubular wall, an inner tubular wall spaced from the outer wall to leave an annular enclosure, a ring attached to the outer wall adjacent one end of the enclosure, a refractory shroud carried by said ring to extend axially in said enclosure and spaced from the outer wall to leave a cooling air passage, a ring carried by the inner wall adjacent said end of the enclosure, a refractory shroud carried by the second ring to extend axially in said enclosure andspaced from the inner wall to leave a cooling air passage, said shrouds being spaced apart to define an annular combustion zone, an inner shroud carried by each ring within said zone, the inner shrouds being spaced apart to define an inner chamber and being spaced from the first named shrouds, means in said inner chamber for introducing fuel into the combustion zone, and means for conducting air under pressure to said end of the enclosure for passage through said zone, inner chamber and passages.

22. Combustion chamber means comprising an outer tubular wall, an inner tubular wall spaced from the outer wall to leave an annular enclosure, a ring attached to the outer wall adjacent one end of the enclosure, a refractory shroud carried by said rin to extend axially in said enclosure and spaced from the outer wall to leave a cooling air passage, a ring carried by the inner wall adjacent said end of the enclosure, a refractory shroud carried by the second ring to extend axially in said enclosure and spaced from the inner wall'to leave a cooling air passage, said shrouds being spaced apart to define a combus-' tion zone, means for introducing fuel into said zone, means for conducting air under pressure to said end of the enclosure for passage therethrough, and swirl vanes on the rings for imparting angular motion to the air entering said zone.

23. Combustion chamber means comprising an outer tubular wall, an inner tubular wall spaced from the outer wall to leave an annular enclosure, a ring attached to the outer wall adjacent one end of the enclosure, a refractory shroud carried by said ring to extend axially in said enclosure and spaced from the outer wall to leave a cooling air passage, a ring carried by the inner wall adjacent said end of the enclosure, a refractory shroud carried by the second ring to extend axially in said enclosure and spaced from the inner wall to leave a cooling air] passage, said shrouds being spaced apart to define a combustion zone, means for introducing fuel into said zone, means for conducting air under pressure to said end of the enclosure for passage therethrough, swirl K 14 vanes on the rings for imparting angular motion to the air entering said zone, and means for conducting air under pressure to said end of the enclosure for passage through said zone and inner chamber and passages.

24. Combustion chamber means comprising an outer tubular wall, an inner tubular wall spaced from the outer wall to leave an annular enclosure, a ring attached to the outer wall adjacent one end of the enclosure, a refractory shroud carried by said ring to extend axially in said enclosure and spaced from the outer wall to leave a cooling air passage, a ring carried bythe inner wall adjacent said end the enclosure, a refractory shroud carried by he second ring to extend axially in said enclosu e and spaced from the inner wall to leave a cooling air passage, said shrouds being spaced apart to define, an annular combustion zone, an inner shroud carried by each ring within said zone, the inner shrouds being spaced apart to define an inner chamber and being spaced from the first named shrouds, means in said inner chamber for introducing fuel into the combustion zone, means for passing air under pressure into said end of the enclosure, and swirl vanes on the rings for imparting angular motion to the air entering said combustion zone.

25. A combustion chamber comprising walls defining an annular combustion zone, means for conducting'air under pressure to one end of said zone for axial flow therethrough, a pair of tubular shrouds spaced one within the other in said zone adjacent said end, air under pressure from said means being free to flow through the annular space between said shrouds, a nozzle at the other end of the zone for discharging the gases of com bustion, means for introducing fuel into said zone, swirl vanes at the first named end of the zone for imparting angular motion to the air entering zone, and swirl vanes at said nozzle for imparting angular motion to said gases, the first and second named swirled vanes being cambered in the same direction.

26. A combustion chamber comprising walls defining an annular combustion zone, means for conducting air under pressure to one end of said zone for axial flow therethrough, a pair of tubular shroudsspaced one within the other in said zone adjacent said end, air under pressure from said means being free to fiow through the annular space between said shrouds, a nozzle at the other end of the zone for discharging the gases of combustion, corresponding end portions of said walls converging to said nozzle means for introducing fuel into said zone, swirl vanes at the first named end of the zone for imparting angular motion to the air entering the zone, and swirl vanes at said nozzle for imparting angular motion to said gases, the first and second named vanes being cambered in the same direction.

27. A combustion chamber comprising inner and outer tubular walls in spaced relation defining an annular enclosure, a pair of spaced substantially concentric refractory shrouds in theenclosure defining a combustion zone, means for conducting air under pressure to the enclosure and zone for axial passage therethrough, a pair of snaced tubular inner shrouds in said zone spaced from the first named shrouds to leave annularpassages, the inner shrouds being in axially converging relation so that said passages increase in capacity in the direction of air flow and means between the inner shrouds for introducing fuel into said passages.

28. A combustion chamber comprising inner and outer tubular walls in spaced relation defining an annular enclosure, a pair of spaced substantially concentric refractory shrouds in the enclosure defining a combustion zone, means for conducting air under pressure to the enclosure and zone for axial passage therethrough, a pair of spaced tubular inner shrouds in said zone spaced from the first named shrouds to leave annular passages, the inner shrouds having portions adjacent one end of the enclosure that are substantially concentric with the first named shrouds and portions that converge toward the other end of the enclosure whereby the passages are substantially venturi-shaped, and means between the spaced inner shrouds for introducing fuel into said passages.

29. A combustion chamber for use in a power plant having means for supplying air under pressure comprising walls defining an annular combustion zone, means for conducting the air under pressure to one end of the chamber for passage therethrough, and means for supplying fuel to said zone including a tubular manifold in said end of .the zone substantially curved about the longitudinal axis of the zone, spaced tubes extending axially from the manifold, each tube having a discharge orifice, means for supplying air under pressure to the manifold for discharge from the orifices, a tubular fuel manifold within the first subjected to a shearing action by the high velocity air flow through said passages 30. A combustion chamber for use in a power plant having means for supplying air under pressure comprising walls defining an annular combustion zone, means for conducting the air under pressure to one end of the chamber for passage therethrough, and means for supplying fuel to said zone including a tubular manifold in said end of the zone substantially curved about the longitudinal axis of the zone, means for supplying air under pressure to the manifold, a tubular fuel manifold within the first named manifold and spaced from the wall thereof to be protected by air flow through said first named manifold, and means on the manifolds for discharging a mixture of air and fuel into said zone.

31. A combustion chamber for use in a power plant having means for supplying air under pressure comprising walls defining an annular combustion zone, means for conducting the air under pressure to one end of the chamber for passage therethrough, and means for supplying fuel to said zone including a tubular manifold in said end of the zone substantialy curved about the longitudinal axis of the zone, means for supplying a orifice means on said manifolds having air flow means discharging high velocity air, and fuel orifices related to said fiow so the fuel discharged from fuel orifices "is subjected to a shearing action by said high velocity air.

32. A combustion chamber for use in a power plant having means for supplying air under pressure comprising walls defining an annular combustion zone, means for conducting the air under pressure to one end of the chamber for passage therethrough, and means for supplying fuel to said zone including a tubular manifold in said end of the zone substantially curved about the longitudinal axis of the zone, spaced tubes extending axially from the manifold, each tube having a discharge orifice, means for supplying air under pressure to the manifold for discharge from the orifices, a tubular fuel manifold within the first named manifold and spaced from the walls thereof to be protected by the air flow therethrough, and fuel tubes extending from the fuel .manifold and entering the air tubes with slight clearance to leave high velocity air passages, the fuel tubes having orifices directing fuel into said passages substantially normal to the air fiow therethrough, there being mixing chambers in said first named tubes between the fuel orificesv and the first named orifices.

33. A combustion chamber comprising a pair of spaced walls defining a passage for receiving air under pressure for axial fiow therethrough, a source of air under pressure for continuously supplying air under pressure to said passage for axial fiow therethrough, one wall having an aperture therethrough, means behind said wall for continuously projecting a stream of fuel through said aperture into said passage in a direction substantially normal to the direction of air flow therethrough, said means including a fuel jet dis charging a stream of fuel through said aperture of smaller diameter than the aperture, and duct means directing air under pressure from said source to behind said wall so that a stream of air flows through the aperture in surrounding relation to the fuel stream.

NATHAN C. PRICE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,130,090 Kutschinski Mar. 2, 1915 1,650,343 Good Nov. 22, 1927 2,097,255 Saha Oct. 26, 1937 2,117,270 Bloom May 17, 1938 2,268,464 Seippel Dec. 30, 1941 2,326,072 Seippel Aug. 3, 1943 2,332,866 Muller Oct. 26, 1943 2,398,654 Lubbock et al Apr. 16, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 63,081 Austria Jan. 26, 1914 210,655v Switzerland Oct. 16, 1940 

